Building construction



` May 26, 1942. J. P. PAcA 2,284,012

Y BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug.` s, 1s4o ATTORNEY.

Patented May 26, 1942 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION .lohn P. Paca, Canton, Ohio, assignor to Diebold Safe & Lock Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 3, 1940, serial No. 350,387

3 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction, and more particularly to a new and improved door frame structure for all plaster walls.

Heretofore many different types of metal door framesrfor allv plaster walls have been provided; however, such frames have embodied features which for various reasons were not entirely desirable from a commercial standpoint. For example, many frames Were of a relatively rigid construction and therefore were not easily adaptable to varying distances between ceiling and floor. Where adjustability was an inherent feature of the construction, the multiplicity of parts employed greatly increased the initial cost of the frame, as well as the cost of erection.' Furthermore, those types of frames which were completely fabricated at the shop, in most instances were cumbersome and awkward to handle in shipping.

By the present invention, there is provided a door frame for all plaster walls whichminimizes or eliminates the drawbacks inherent in prior types of construction, and is simple and economical to manufacture and ship. The frame em'- bodies characteristics of adjustability whereby compensation may be made for variations in the distance between floor and ceiling. The simplicity of construction readily lends itself to a greatly reduced cost of erection.

Various objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating the door frame unit of this invention,`

assembled in position in the wall of a building;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed elevation of the upper portion of the door frame;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawing, the frame A comprises the upright side members I0 and II, and cross member I2, being joined together by meansvof welding and the like. The frame is uniform, substantially channel-like in cross section throughout, the frontal section I4 of the sidel members of the frame being offset to form a door stop I5. The sides of the frame are inwardly bent as at I6 and I'I to exercise a locking engagement with the plaster, or other medium of which the wall is made.

A bracket member I8, having a web portion I9, and spaced end flanges 20, is mounted within the channel of each of the upright members I0 and II, adjacent the upper ends thereof. The web portion of the brackets is suitably spotwelded to the inner surface of the frontal section of the upright members, With the flanged ends extending outwardly therefrom. Aligned angulated slots 2|, are formed in the end flanges 20, the apex of which are notched as at 22. The web portion I9 of the bracket is deformed inwardly as at 23, and forms with a cut-away portion 24 in the frontal section of the frame member I0, a recess which receives a hinge plate 25, which serves to support the upper part of thedoor.A The deformed part 23, is provided with tapped apertures which receiveL screws 26 for maintaining the hinge plate in position within the recess. A cover plate 21 is secured to the bracket I9 to protect the apertures from becoming clogged with plaster. Adjacent the lower end of the upright member I0 is a second cut-away portion 24a in which is mounted a hinge plate for supporting the lower portion of a door.

Strut members 30 extending between the frame and vthe ceiling 4D, serve to anchor the frame thereto, the upper ends of the struts being secured to the ceiling 40 by means of the flanges 3| formed thereon. The struts are substantially angular in cross-section and extend from the ceiling downwardly through the aligned angulated slots of the anges 20 on the bracket I8. The lower extremities of the struts are frictionally secured within the slots by means of wedges 32 which are driven into the notches 22 and force the strut against the side of the slots. The struts, by means of the wedges, are frictionally held in fixed position with respect to the frame members. Angulated clips 36, having one leg welded to the lower ends of the side members, and the other leg adapted to be secured to the floor 35, serve to anchor vthe bottom of the frame to the iioor.

The expanded metal lath 31, upon which the plaster wall is formed, is secured to the frame A by means of wires engaging perforations 39 in the struts 30 and perforated clips.38, secured to the uprights I0 and II, at spaced points therealong.

The frame A is adapted to be completely fabricated in the shop and is shipped to the place of installation as a compact unit, the strut members 30 being assembled within the brackets I8 during shipment. In installing the frame it is only necessary to place the frame in the desired position, secure the upper ends of the struts 30 to the Y ceiling, anchor the bottom clips to the iioor, and

drive the Wedges 32 into the notches 22 and the frame is ready to receive the metal lath.

It is thus readily seen that there is hereby provided a door frame which may be simply and economically constructed in the shop and readily4 tending portion being provided with a slot, and a second slot intersecting the first slot near the center thereof, a strut member having one end.

adapted to be anchoredto a ceiling andthe other end slidably received in the slot in the outwardly K extending portion of said bracket and a relatively thin tapering wedge member adapted to engage in said second slot and serving to force said strut member against the Wall'of said slot. v

2. The combination vwith a Vframe for a wall A opening comprising side and cross members joined together, of bracket members adapted to be secured within the channel of said side members adjacent the top thereof and having each of its'ends voutwardly disposed, each of said outwardly disposed ends being provided with a slotl of substantially V shape, and a second slot intersecting Vthe rst slot at the vertex thereof, strut members having one end thereof adapted to be anchored to a ceiling and the other end slidably received in the slots in said bracket ends, a relatively thin tapering wedge member adapted to engage in said second slot and serving to force said strut members against the walls of said slots.

3. The combination with a frame for a wall opening comprising side and cross members rigidlyjoined together, the frame members being of generally channel shape in cross section, of

bracket members having an elongated plate adapted to be secured within the channel of said side members adjacent the top thereof and having each of its ends disposed at substantially right angles thereto, each of said right angularly disposed ends being provided with an opening therethrough, said opening comprising a pair of slots intersecting at substantiallyright angles, with a third slot intersecting the rst pair of slots at the rvertex thereof, strut members having one end adapted to be anchored to a ceiling and the free end slidably received in the openings in said bracket ends, Vsaid struts having in cross section a substantially V shape, a relatively thin tapering wedge member 'adapted to engage in said third slot and serving to, force the strut members against the Walls of said slots.

JOHN P. PACA. 

